ONE SOUTH ANNEX

i met a girl in the madhouse once
she never slept
she never shut up
but she was funny

she sold cigarettes for a dollar
and never got caught smoking
while the rest of us did.

we played spades
and she taught us
how to play mah-jongg
she had her parents buy
white castle for the whole ward.

she had tantrums
she'd get in trouble
security would come
and restrain her
then she got the harpoon
and put in that room

she ordered five course meals for us
did our laundry
and hoarded treats for us

then they let her go.

i forget her name now
but i'll never forget
the fun i had
 committed
that time.

Reviews

[Mark]

Fun is where you find it. I like the fast rhythm of this poem, succinct and so powerful. I enjoyed the read.

[An owl on the moon]

This is an amazing glimpse into recollections... We are pulled into that place.. into the feelings it brought about... glimpsed images that sing a bittersweet lullaby...

[Kiari Sabon]

i love it ^_^ the light in the dark

[Rosalind Gale]

You drew me in with the word 'annex' - from a child I loved the word. I also know a little of what you write - written with love, compassion, and insight. And for this I thank you. I look forward to reading more. With best wishes,
Rosa.

[ErikHansen67]

Nicely done. I like the flow of this piece. I can also relate to playing Spades with folks you don't normally sit down with...

[K.C. Zbryk]

I love how the impressions people make on us sometimes last longer than their names. Its kind of funny but i am play the role of the above mentioned security so i get to see some of these antics far too often. But this experience is captured extremely well, and you demonstrate the affect that people have on each other is also captured quite masterfully. Amazing poetry.

[Blindfolded]

We always remember the people that did the most for us no matter what the situation is. This is a wonderful read and write, well done.

[khalid]

great poem as well as all your poems. i have really enjoyed reading it. we may meet people who make distinguished signs in our lives, these signs are unforgetable. we may forget those people one day but we can never forget their deeds. these people have already formed our characters. great work really

[Suze]

Love it, so very real to life. Having been in a few madhouses myself, I know how those short, intense madhouse friendships can be. Good write, I enjoyed it very much.

[Cornelia DeDona]

WOW--nice memory piece! could relate! Why is it we never remember the names of the people who were nice to us? But always remember the ones that extracted an ounce of blood?